CAA President's Message

President's Message 2010

Welcome to 2010 and a new decade of Audiology in the state of California! I am honored to be the new president of this organization! This past year has been a busy and exciting year for audiologists in our state. With the passing of AB1535 eliminating dual licensure, reducing duplicative licensing fees and CEU requirements, and merging the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau with the Speech, Language Pathology and Audiology Board we have achieved a goal that has been a long time coming! Additionally, SB821 was passed relaxing supervisory requirements for audiology aides, changing the entry level degree for audiologists in California to an AuD and also changing
RPE requirements for 4th year AuD externship students. We have had a very busy legislative year, but we are not done yet! We will continue to work with the SLPAHDB in the coming year when the Board will be reassessing the requirements for CEUs, fees and renewals. This year promises to be another eventful year for audiology in Sacramento.

As President in 2010, I would like to continue the tradition established for thinking big and keeping the membership informed of all the Academy is doing for its members. Goals for this year include continuation of the stated goals for 2009 as well as some new and exciting topics. These include:

Continuing to develop the CAA website to make it more dynamic
Developing additional CEU opportunities around the state
Expanding the CAA conference to include multiple tracks to meet the diverse needs of our membership
Email blasts and newsletters to update members of professional opportunities and legislative issues
Increasing the professional profile of audiologists to the state’s hearing healthcare consumers
Developing the student mentoring committee to be a source of information and support for California’s AuD students
Providing support and networking capabilities for recent graduates establishing themselves in the California audiology community

Nationally and within our state, this is a call for action to THINK BIG, shape decisions and affect change! If you are not a member, become a member of CAA. If you are currently a member, get involved! That involvement may include volunteering for a committee, supporting CAA legislative work with a PAC donation or mentoring an AuD student or new graduate. There is strength in numbers. Let’s all work together in this new decade so California’s audiologists will Hear and Be Heard!

Cheers!
Jacque Georgeson, Au.D.
President
California Academy of Audiology